Jonas M. Kennel

JONAS M. KENNEL was born January 21, 1867, at Champion. Fayette county, Pennsylvania, son of Jacob H. and Mary (Miller) Kennel. The mother is still living, but the father died. March 21, 1900. He was a son of Solomon and Rebecca (Hoyman) Kennel, both of whom were natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and of German parentage. Jacob H. Kennel was a native of Somerset county, a farmer, and during the latter part of his life a stockdealer. His life was spent in Fayette county from the time he was fifteen Years of age. His farm was eighty-six acres in extent. He was the father of the following children: Jonas M., of whom later; Norman, of Scottdale, a grocer; Wilford, died in September, 1903, was a grocer of Scottdale; Simon of Champion, Pennsylvania, farmer and miller; Charles, of Donegal township, farmer; William, of Scottdale, mill worker.

Jonas M. Kennel was brought up to farm life and received his education in the public schools. In 1890 lie engaged in the grocer business at the Dexter Coke works, Fayette county, and remained there for three years. He then located at Scottdale and started in business in company with J. C. Kennel, tinder the firm title of Kinnel and Kennel. This firm existed for about two Years; then J. C. Kennel withdrew and was succeeded by O. D. Weimer and the business was carried on under the name of Weimer and Kennel. Mr. Weimer was succeeded by Wilford Kennel, and the firm name became J. M. Kennel and Bro., which name existed two years. Jonas M. Kennel then sold his interest to his brother and removed to Kifertown, where he bought the old Hickey stand and conducted that business for some four years. At the end of that time he sold out and purchased the old homestead of his father in Saltley township, Fayette county. He operated the farm about one year, and then entered the employ of the Union Supply Company and was employed at Davidson, Summitt and Hazelett during about one year. He then purchased his present establishment and has continued there since, engaged in the grocery business and also dealing in tinware, flour and feed. He has built up a large business by his practical and honorable methods. He is a stockholder in the Iron Company of America, located at Roanoke, Virginia, and is the owner of four valuable properties, three of them dwelling houses in the borough of Scottdale. He is truly that noble American type, a self-made man, for he started at the bottom with nothing but a large stock of pluck and energy. While yet in his boyhood he purchased his time of his father by giving him one-half of his earnings, continuing this until he was twenty-one years old. During this time he saved of his share of his earnings seven hundred dollars. With this as a basis, he began his successful business career at the age of twenty-one. In politics his sympathies are Democratic. He is a member of Royal Arcanum, Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen and the Eagles. Mr. Kennel married, in June, 1891, Kate Dixon, daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Stauffer). Dixon, a native of Fayette county. Seven children: Grace, -Mary, Ray, Edna, Annie, Catherine (deceased), and Ruth Kennel. They are members of the United Brethren church.  

Source: Page(s) 207-208, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed August 2008 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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